Taco Bellhttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/taco-bell
en-usSat, 10 Dec 2016 01:29:30 -0500Sat, 10 Dec 2016 01:29:30 -0500The latest news on Taco Bell from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/best-fast-food-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2016-11Great lunch options from McDonald's, Starbucks, and 13 other popular fast-food chains to keep you energized all dayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-fast-food-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2016-11
Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:03:00 -0500Business Insider
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/564526682491f919008b4c82-3000-1500/471371516.jpg" alt="Chipotle " data-mce-source="Getty Images/Joe Raedle " /></p><p>Fast-food chains get a bad rap, especially when what you order brings on a food coma posthaste.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While we know that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2015-10/">what you eat for lunch affects your productivity</a> for the rest of the day, this doesn't mean you have to rule out convenience for the sake of healthy choices.</p>
<p>Plenty of chains offer meal&nbsp;options&nbsp;that are&nbsp;<span>heavy on the protein and healthy fats and easy on the carbs and bad fats, which is&nbsp;just what you need to avoid the&nbsp;3 p.m. slump,&nbsp;<span>says Lisa DeFazio, a&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.lisadefazio.com/">healthy-lifestyle expert</a><span>&nbsp;and registered dietitian.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Take Chipotle: An oversized burrito is probably not the best thing for your productivity, but bowls and other less-carb-heavy options with lots of protein and healthy fats like avocado will give you just what you need&nbsp;<span>to feed your brain without overdoing it,&nbsp;DeFazio&nbsp;says. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span>These healthier</span>&nbsp;fast-food lunch&nbsp;options should keep you from passing out at your desk:</p>
<p><em>Nutritional content may vary and is based on </em><em>company guides</em><em>.</em></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2015-10" >The 10 best lunch options to keep you from passing out at your desk</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>DON'T MISS:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-unhealthy-jobs-in-america-2015-11" >The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health</a></strong></p>
<h3>McDonald's</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/583e115ce02ba730208b68b7-400-300/mcdonalds.jpg" alt="" />
<p><h3><span>Premium southwest chicken salad with grilled chicken</span></h3>
<p><span>Protein: 33 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Carbs: 26 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Healthy fat: 7 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Bad fat: 4 grams</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Chipotle</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/558990e669bedd866df6781f-400-300/chipotle.jpg" alt="" />
<p><h3><span>Three soft tacos with steak or chicken, fajita vegetables, guacamole, and green tomatillo salsa</span></h3>
<p><span>Protein: 39 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Carbs: 57 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Healthy fat: 28 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Bad fat: 8.5 grams</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Burrito bowl with steak or chicken, brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, guacamole, and green salsa</h3>
<p><p><span>Protein: 44 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Carbs: 76 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Healthy fat: 29 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Bad fat: 6.5 grams</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-fast-food-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2016-11#/#salad-with-lettuce-chicken-or-steak-black-beans-fajita-vegetables-and-chipotle-honey-vinaigrette-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/best-fast-food-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2016-11Great lunch options from McDonald's, Starbucks, and 13 other popular fast-food chains to keep you energized all dayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-fast-food-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2016-11
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 11:58:00 -0500Rachel Gillett
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/564526682491f919008b4c82-3000-1500/471371516.jpg" alt="Chipotle " data-mce-source="Getty Images/Joe Raedle " /></p><p>Fast-food chains get a bad rap, especially when what you order brings on a food coma posthaste.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While we know that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2015-10/">what you eat for lunch affects your productivity</a> for the rest of the day, this doesn't mean you have to rule out convenience for the sake of healthy choices.</p>
<p>Plenty of chains offer meal&nbsp;options&nbsp;that are&nbsp;<span>heavy on the protein and healthy fats and easy on the carbs and bad fats, which is&nbsp;just what you need to avoid the&nbsp;3 p.m. slump,&nbsp;<span>says Lisa DeFazio, a&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.lisadefazio.com/">healthy-lifestyle expert</a><span>&nbsp;and registered dietitian.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Take Chipotle: An oversized burrito is probably not the best thing for your productivity, but bowls and other less-carb-heavy options with lots of protein and healthy fats like avocado will give you just what you need&nbsp;<span>to feed your brain without overdoing it,&nbsp;DeFazio&nbsp;says. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span>These healthier</span>&nbsp;fast-food lunch&nbsp;options should keep you from passing out at your desk:</p>
<p><em>Nutritional content may vary and is based on </em><em>company guides</em><em>.</em></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2015-10" >The 10 best lunch options to keep you from passing out at your desk</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>DON'T MISS:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-unhealthy-jobs-in-america-2015-11" >The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health</a></strong></p>
<h3>McDonald's</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/583e115ce02ba730208b68b7-400-300/mcdonalds.jpg" alt="" />
<p><h3><span>Premium southwest chicken salad with grilled chicken</span></h3>
<p><span>Protein: 33 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Carbs: 26 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Healthy fat: 7 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Bad fat: 4 grams</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Chipotle</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/558990e669bedd866df6781f-400-300/chipotle.jpg" alt="" />
<p><h3><span>Three soft tacos with steak or chicken, fajita vegetables, guacamole, and green tomatillo salsa</span></h3>
<p><span>Protein: 39 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Carbs: 57 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Healthy fat: 28 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Bad fat: 8.5 grams</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Burrito bowl with steak or chicken, brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, guacamole, and green salsa</h3>
<p><p><span>Protein: 44 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Carbs: 76 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Healthy fat: 29 grams</span></p>
<p><span>Bad fat: 6.5 grams</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-fast-food-lunches-to-eat-at-work-for-productivity-2016-11#/#salad-with-lettuce-chicken-or-steak-black-beans-fajita-vegetables-and-chipotle-honey-vinaigrette-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-now-one-of-americas-healthiest-fast-food-chains-2016-10Taco Bell is now one of America's healthiest fast food chainshttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-now-one-of-americas-healthiest-fast-food-chains-2016-10
Wed, 23 Nov 2016 12:28:03 -0500Tessa Newell
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5835d1c4dd0895431a8b4607-2400/gettyimages-459942938.jpg" alt="GettyImages 459942938" data-mce-source="Elijah Nouvelage / Stringer" /></p><p></p>
<p><strong>The INSIDER Summary:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>&bull; Taco Bell has been building their menu to offer healthier options.</strong><br /><strong>&bull;&nbsp;There is now a low-calorie &ldquo;Fresco&rdquo; menu, a high-protein &ldquo;Cantina&rdquo; menu, and a vegetarian menu certified by the American Vegetarian Association.</strong></p>
<hr />
<p>While no one was looking, Taco Bell has been scheming.</p>
<p>Unless you&rsquo;re a hardcore follower of the chain, you may not have noticed the change, so we&rsquo;re going to fill you in: <strong>Taco Bell has started to become one of the country&rsquo;s healthiest fast food chains.</strong></p>
<p>It seems a little weird that a restaurant that offers a Doritos shell taco would warrant that title, but it&rsquo;s the gospel truth.</p>
<p>In the past year or so, Taco Bell has been restructuring menu choices from top to bottom, especially on the company website and mobile platform. The goal? To give consumers a choice. They can pig out on Crunch Wrap Supremes if they want, or they can go for a healthier option that&rsquo;s still quick service and delicious.</p>
<p>Very few fast food chains today can claim a similar accomplishment.</p>
<p><strong>Much of the credit can be given to Taco Bell&rsquo;s dietician and product developer, Missy Nelson.</strong> Take a minute to wrap your head around the fact that Taco Bell has a dietician.</p>
<p>Since Nelson joined the Taco Bell team, she has made huge strides towards taking out all artificial ingredients, switching to cage-free eggs, and offering lighter (but still delicious) options. On top of all that, there has been a 15% reduction in sodium across all menu items, which is subtly a brilliant move.</p>
<p><strong>Taco Bell now offers so much more than the traditional menu we&rsquo;re used to. There is now a low-calorie &ldquo;Fresco&rdquo; menu, a high-protein &ldquo;Cantina&rdquo; menu, and a vegetarian menu certified by the American Vegetarian Association.</strong> The vegetarian menu even comes with vegan-friendly selections, all of which can be found on the Taco Bell app.</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5835d1c4dd0895431a8b4608-800/taco_bell.jpg" alt="taco_bell" data-mce-source="Steven Depolo/Flickr" data-link="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/6351403565/in/photolist-aFfB12-fLCJJ5-7vwDiG-5DEvjx-48Q48-5uMXJ-kzYgRS-5BnZwD-6gQWzz-85DAqH-bcP7h4-6mzWXW-5AmX8D-8iEMs4-ar49sP-kzYfmY-a6xuuK-occ4HZ-kzWwHt-acBCDz-9Bra4F-nKoZk2-kzWcpv-eJpUq2-esdjm-fKEhME-nLvMXp-e73Jx7-mfSKas-oB12xJ-dtGhsf-nJxB9C-n9Gme6-nzrb1e-nRVVsP-5iRYUr-8pAaBM-93H2FF-sacu2y-eovuUg-ea6YGa-oBA35U-28wTc-ar6NsC-2tq5hD-p83Qeg-ea66kK-aAFXWD-ar6NjU-5xJMbY" /></p>
<p>With a touch of a button, your order can be customized to fit your dietary needs, which leaves endless options for customization. And by adding these extra, health-conscious menus, Taco Bell gets to keep the traditional fast food menu, while&nbsp;allowing for another avenue to drive new business.</p>
<p>However,&nbsp;<strong>what we really appreciate is that Taco Bell isn&rsquo;t making a huge deal out of their new health offerings</strong> &ndash; which could be why you haven&rsquo;t heard of them.</p>
<p><span>&ldquo;Us [Taco Bell] touting ourselves as a health halo &ndash; it&rsquo;s not authentic and it&rsquo;s not real,&rdquo; Taco Bell spokesman Alec Boyle says.</span></p>
<p>Instead, Taco Bell has kept the usual advertisements and low-key released information on the new menus, so anyone who wants to make the healthy choice can do so. This gains consumer trust more than any of the nutritional tools now at the customer&rsquo;s disposal.</p>
<p>Eyes are now on the rest of the fast food world to see if they're taking serious notes.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-now-one-of-americas-healthiest-fast-food-chains-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-cook-scrambled-eggs-anthony-bourdain-2016-11">The best way to cook scrambled eggs — according to Anthony Bourdain</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-flagship-location-2016-11Taco Bell has a new upscale restaurant that serves booze and sells bikinis ($YUM)http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-flagship-location-2016-11
Mon, 14 Nov 2016 08:01:00 -0500Kate Taylor
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/58261ce846e27a55008b636d-2400/taco bell las vegas 1.jpg" alt="Taco Bell Las Vegas 1" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" />Taco Bell has a new location that&rsquo;s completely different from your&nbsp;average fast-food joint. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Monday, the Mexican fast-food chain debuted a new restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip, which will serve as Taco Bell&rsquo;s flagship location. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The location is the chain&rsquo;s fourth Taco Bell Cantina, offering a&nbsp;more upscale menu that includes alcoholic beverages. However, the Las Vegas location takes the evolution of Taco Bell&rsquo;s brand a step further, with trendy architecture and and entire retail line.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span> Taco Bell CMO Marisa Thalberg told Business Insider that the flagship location attempts to give customers a chance to experience the "whole lifestyle of Taco Bell."&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I think when people feel something for a brand, they enjoy having a little slice of it, because...&nbsp;we think about brands as parts of our identity," Thalberg said. "When I&rsquo;m holding that cup of Starbucks, it says something&nbsp;about me."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here's a look inside&nbsp;the Las Vegas flagship location.&nbsp;</span></p><h3>The two-story restaurant is located on Harmon Corner on the Las Vegas Strip.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/58261d6b46e27a18048b6388-400-300/the-two-story-restaurant-is-located-on-harmon-corner-on-the-las-vegas-strip.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>The menu is different than what you'd find at a typical Taco Bell location, and includes tapas-style shareables like nachos, quesadillas, and chicken fingers. Food is served in open baskets instead of foil or paper wrap.</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/58261df5691e881b008b6529-400-300/the-menu-is-different-than-what-youd-find-at-a-typical-taco-bell-location-and-includes-tapas-style-shareables-like-nachos-quesadillas-and-chicken-fingers-food-is-served-in-open-baskets-instead-of-foil-or-paper-wrap.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>One of the most striking aspects of the location is the "freeze wall," with eight frozen drink taps. Customers have the option to add tequila, rum, vodka, whiskey, or spiced rum to create "Twisted Freezes."</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/58261ce846e27a55008b636d-400-300/one-of-the-most-striking-aspects-of-the-location-is-the-freeze-wall-with-eight-frozen-drink-taps-customers-have-the-option-to-add-tequila-rum-vodka-whiskey-or-spiced-rum-to-create-twisted-freezes.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-flagship-location-2016-11#/#the-las-vegas-flagship-is-the-first-taco-bell-location-to-sell-merchandise-like-t-shirts-bikinis-and-beach-towels-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-free-food-world-series-today-2016-11Taco Bell is giving away free food todayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-free-food-world-series-today-2016-11
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 09:47:25 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5760049791058424008c8c03-2048/1973349_10152389795379697_6621588182186339947_o.jpg" alt="Doritos Locos" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-link="https://www.facebook.com/tacobell/photos/a.81097684696.68431.18595834696/10152389795379697/?type=3&amp;theater"></p><p>Taco Bell is giving away free Doritos Locos Tacos because the Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor stole a base in Game 1 of the World Series.</p>
<p>To pick up a free Doritos Locos Taco, customers can visit any Taco Bell location in the US from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The fast-food chain promised to give away free food if a player from either the Indians or the Chicago Cubs stole a base during the 2016 Word Series as part of the restaurant chain's "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion.</p>
<p>Lindor did just that last Tuesday when he stole second base, helping Cleveland triumph 6-0 over the Cubs.</p>
<p>The infielder was apparently aware of Taco Bell's promotion.</p>
<p>"The guys told me," Lindor told <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/10/cleveland-indians-world-series-game-one-francisco-lindor-taco-bell-hero-stolen-base-mlb">USA Today's sports website For The Win</a>. "Have some tacos! I'll probably have some tacos, too."</p>
<p><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
A win AND scoring America free 🌮's? Best night ever. Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/tacobell">@tacobell</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldseries?src=hash">#worldseries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tacobellpartner?src=hash">#tacobellpartner</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ad?src=hash">#ad</a> <a href="https://t.co/BD41NQ083b">pic.twitter.com/BD41NQ083b</a> </p>— Francisco Lindor (@Lindor12BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/791360125898555392">October 26, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></p>
<p>The free-taco deal got a shoutout from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66dxeDUCar4&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;t=47m28s">President Barack Obama on Tuesday</a> while he was campaigning for Hillary Clinton in Columbus, Ohio.</p>
<p>"Because I've been watching the World Series, I am aware that because Francisco Lindor stole second base in Game 1, everyone in America gets a free taco at Taco Bell tomorrow," Obama said, as supporters cheered. "If you can find the time to get a free taco, then you can find the time to go vote! If you can find the time to go to Taco Bell … you can find the time to cast your ballot."</p>
<p>This isn't the first time Taco Bell has paid up with free food during the World Series. Last year, the chain spent at least $10 million giving away free A.M. Crunchwraps <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-spending-more-than-10-million-to-give-customers-free-food-2015-11">after </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-spending-more-than-10-million-to-give-customers-free-food-2015-11">Kansas City Royals player Lorenzo Cain stole second base during a game against the New York Mets</a>.</p>
<p>The series-deciding Game 7 between the Indians and the Cubs is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/arbys-tests-venison-sandwich-2016-10" >Arby's is going where no fast-food chain has gone before</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-free-food-world-series-today-2016-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-mexican-restaurant-black-ant-grasshoppers-bugs-tacos-2016-8">We went to the NYC restaurant that serves grasshoppers and they're delicious</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-free-food-world-series-2016-10Taco Bell is giving away free foodhttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-free-food-world-series-2016-10
Wed, 26 Oct 2016 16:29:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><span><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5760049791058424008c8c03-2048/1973349_10152389795379697_6621588182186339947_o.jpg" alt="Doritos Locos" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-link="https://www.facebook.com/tacobell/photos/a.81097684696.68431.18595834696/10152389795379697/?type=3&amp;theater">Taco Bell is giving away free <span>Doritos Locos Taco</span> after the<span> Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor stole a base in Game 1 of the World Series championship. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The fast-food chain promised to give away free food if a base is stolen by any player from either team (Cleveland or <span>the Chicago Cubs)</span> during the 2016 Word Series Championship, as part of the "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Lindor did just that on Tuesday, when he stole second base, helping Cleveland triumph <span>6-0 over the Cubs. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The infielder was apparently aware of Taco Bell's promotion. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>"The guys told me," Lindor told <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/10/cleveland-indians-world-series-game-one-francisco-lindor-taco-bell-hero-stolen-base-mlb">USA Today's For The Win.</a> "Have some tacos! I’ll probably have some tacos, too."</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
A win AND scoring America free 🌮's? Best night ever. Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/tacobell">@tacobell</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldseries?src=hash">#worldseries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tacobellpartner?src=hash">#tacobellpartner</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ad?src=hash">#ad</a> <a href="https://t.co/BD41NQ083b">pic.twitter.com/BD41NQ083b</a> </p>— Francisco Lindor (@Lindor12BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/791360125898555392">October 26, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><span><span><span><span>To pick up your free Doritos Locos Taco, Taco Bell customers can go to any Taco Bell location in the US between 2 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>This isn't the first time Taco Bell has been forced to pay up with free food during the World Series. Last year, Taco Bell spent at least $10 million giving away free A.M. Crunchwraps</span><span> </span><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-spending-more-than-10-million-to-give-customers-free-food-2015-11">after </a><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-spending-more-than-10-million-to-give-customers-free-food-2015-11">Kansas City Royals player Lorenzo Cain stole second base during a game against the New York Mets</a>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/arbys-tests-venison-sandwich-2016-10" >Arby's is going where no fast-food chain has gone before</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-free-food-world-series-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-mexican-restaurant-black-ant-grasshoppers-bugs-tacos-2016-8">We went to the NYC restaurant that serves grasshoppers and they're delicious</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-itll-cost-you-open-mcdonalds-franchise-2016-10This is how much it’ll cost you to open a McDonald’shttp://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-itll-cost-you-open-mcdonalds-franchise-2016-10
Sun, 16 Oct 2016 08:48:00 -0400Eames Yates and Hayley Peterson
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<p>If you're thinking about a career change or making an investment in a lucrative business like McDonald's, it's important that you know the truth about <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-costs-to-open-a-mcdonalds-2014-11">what it costs</a> to open one of the famous franchises.</p>
<p><strong>Follow BI Video:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/BI_Video" target="_blank">On Twitter</a> </p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-itll-cost-you-open-mcdonalds-franchise-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-restaurants-for-teens-2016-10These 5 restaurants will dominate the fast-food industryhttp://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-restaurants-for-teens-2016-10
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 10:44:00 -0400Hayley Peterson
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/561e6d639dd7cc1a008c19e3-911-683/eating at mcdonald's.jpg" alt="Eating at McDonald's" data-mce-source="Flickr / Christoph Spiegl" /></p><p>The restaurant industry is getting increasingly competitive as more and more people&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-grocery-prices-2016-9">take advantage of falling grocery prices by eating at home</a>.</p>
<p>When eating out, consumers are increasingly looking for healthy, convenient food options that don't break the bank.</p>
<p>To get an indication of which restaurants chains will dominate the industry over the next decade, analysts should look at where teens are spending their money.</p>
<p>Teens spend the biggest chunk of their budgets on eating out, and the restaurants that win their favor are potentially gaining lifelong customers.</p>
<p>Here are the top five restaurants among upper-income teens, according to a new survey by Piper Jaffray.</p>
<h2>1. Starbucks</h2>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/561e69e6bd86ef1b008c1b00-4888-3666/uk_evenings_3.jpg" alt="Starbucks evenings" data-mce-source="Starbucks" />Starbucks is the perennial favorite among teens, having replaced the mall as their preferred place to meet up and hang out.</p>
<p>The coffee chain has been the No. 1 choice among both upper-income and middle-income teens in&nbsp;each of the past 12 surveys by Piper Jaffray.</p>
<p>The chain's food sales are exploding, and it has been adding beer and wine to the menu at dozens of locations across the US, which will most likely make it even more appealing to young people. The popular loyalty program and app are also major growth drivers.</p>
<h2>2. Chipotle</h2>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/561e6a3fbd86ef135c8b6949-1031-773/screen shot 2015-07-20 at 4.54.55 pm.png" alt="andrew hawryluk chipotle" data-mce-source="Andrew Hawryluk/Chipotlife" data-mce-caption="Andrew Hawryluk" />Teens love Chipotle.</p>
<p>The massive serving sizes, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-tweets-about-sex-and-marijuana-to-win-back-millennials-2016-9">provocative marketing</a>, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-is-giving-away-free-burritos-2016-6">endless free food offers</a> are strong draws for the younger crowd.</p>
<p>The E. coli outbreak at Chipotle restaurants last year that sent the company's same-store sales plunging by as much as 30% appear to have had no impact on teens' preference for the burrito chain.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the outbreak, the chain never slipped from its No. 2 spot behind Starbucks.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>3. Chick-fil-A</h2>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/561e6b1c9dd7cc25008c1a87-700-525/chick fil a sandwichcropped.jpg" alt="Chick Fil A" data-mce-source="J. Reed/WikimediaCommons" />Chick-fil-Chick-Fil-A is dominating fast food.</p>
<p>The chain, which is best known for its crispy fried chicken and waffle fries, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-chick-fil-a-is-so-successful-2016-10">generates more revenue per restaurant than any other fast-food chain in the US</a>.</p>
<p><span>Chick-fil-A's average sales per restaurant in 2015 were $3.9 million. Its fried-chicken competitor KFC sold about $1 million per restaurant that year.</span></p>
<p>Despite its relatively small size, Chick-fil-A also ranks highly in terms of its total system-wide sales.</p>
<p>The chain generated nearly $6.8 billion in revenue in 2015, making it the eighth-largest fast-food chain in the US, <span>according to <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/reports/qsr50-2016-top-50-chart?sort=2015_us_average_sales_per_unit_thousands&amp;dir=desc">QSR magazine</a>.</span></p>
<h2>4.&nbsp;Taco Bell</h2>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/56f54ee252bcd01a008b8b33-960/996769_10153894502619697_1746603337164491493_n.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Taco Bell Facebook" data-link="https://www.facebook.com/tacobell/photos_stream" />Taco Bell stole the No. 4 spot from Panera in the latest Piper Jaffray survey. Panera is now no longer among teens' top five favorite chains.</p>
<p>Taco Bell's new breakfast offerings, like the Triple Double Crunchwrap,&nbsp;have been a major growth driver.</p>
<p>The chain's breakfast sales&nbsp;jumped 14% in the most recent quarter, according to the company.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>5. McDonald's</h2>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/561e6c509dd7cc04308b65ca-3039-2279/rtxrs0e.jpg" alt="mcdonald's millenials people " data-mce-source="REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth " data-mce-caption="Men wearing Father Christmas outfits eat in a fast food restaurant in central London December 12, 2009. " />McDonald's&nbsp;has maintained its No. 5 spot since the last survey six months ago.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But that's a decline from year ago, when it was teens' fourth favorite chain.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Piper Jaffrey analysts say McDonald's has been losing customers to Chick-fil-A.</p>
<p>"Survey results suggest continued competitive intrusion from Chick-fil-A (specifically among average income teens)," analysts wrote. However, they also noted that "McDonald's overwhelming lead as the preferred hamburger brand was maintained in the latest survey cycle."</p>
<p><span>The chain's low prices are a big draw for cash-strapped young people, who are more likely to be underemployed and working multiple jobs to pay off student-loan debt.</span></p>
<p>"We believe operational, culinary, and technology initiatives position McDonald's for continued improvement over the next several years," analysts said.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-lose-weight-eating-only-mcdonalds-2015-10" >A teacher who lost 56 pounds eating only McDonald's is starring in a documentary to show kids about 'healthy' eating</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-restaurants-for-teens-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/army-veteran-was-shot-protecting-students-from-oregon-gunman-2015-10">An Army veteran was shot multiple times protecting others students from the Oregon gunman</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-has-redesigned-its-restaurants-2016-10Taco Bell's new restaurants are unrecognizablehttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-has-redesigned-its-restaurants-2016-10
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 08:50:51 -0400Hayley Peterson
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5800033cda177d3a288b49f2-979/urban edge - brea 2.jpg" alt="Urban Edge Brea 2" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" /></p><p>Taco Bell has redesigned some of its restaurants.</p>
<p>The company&nbsp;rolled out four new store models &mdash; "modern explorer," "California sol," "heritage" and "urban edge" &mdash; and they look nothing like the fast-food chain we know.</p>
<p>The four new restaurants, which recently debuted in Orange County, California, are all pretty similar to one another. The chain plans to roll out the new designs nationally.&nbsp;</p>
<p>They feature open kitchens and lounge seating areas with rustic wood and metal finishes, as well as fancy lighting fixtures and chandeliers that look like they came from Restoration Hardware.</p>
<p>Here's how the company describes each model:</p>
<p><strong><span>Heritage</span></strong><span>: "Inspired by its culinary roots in Mexican-inspired food with a twist, this style is a modern interpretation of <span>Taco</span> <span>Bell</span>&rsquo;s original Mission Revival style characterized by warm white walls with classic materials in the tile and heavy timbers.</span><span> "</span></p>
<p><span><strong><span><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5800028cda177d1c008b4dca-1100/heritage - tustin 1.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-mce-caption="Heritage" /></span></strong></span><strong><span>Modern explorer</span></strong><span>: "This rustic modern style is a refined version of the brand&rsquo;s Cantina Explorer restaurants and can easily fit into a suburban or rural environment. Inspired by the farms that make our food, this style reinforces <span>Taco</span> <span>Bell</span>&rsquo;s commitment to the best ingredients, authenticity and transparency of materials and dining preparation.</span><span> </span></p>
<p><span><strong><span><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5800028eda177d3a288b49ed-2400/modern explorer - santa ana 1.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-mce-caption="Modern Explorer" /></span></strong></span><span><strong><span>California sol</span></strong><span>: "Inspired by <span>Taco</span> <span>Bell</span>&rsquo;s California roots and the California lifestyle, this design blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor. It&rsquo;s a celebration of dining al fresco and embraces a laid-back beachy feel both inside and out."</span><span> </span></span></p>
<p><span><span><strong><span><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5800028cda177d1b008b4dc1-1100/california sol - newport 1.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-mce-caption="California Sol" /></span></strong></span></span><span><span><strong><span>Urban edge</span></strong><span>: "This design represents an eclectic mix of international and street style done the <span>Taco&nbsp;</span><span>Bell&nbsp;</span>way. This style is inspired by timeless design married with cutting-edge elements of the urban environment."</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5800028cda177d78008b4dde-1100/urban edge - brea 1.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-mce-caption="Urban Edge" /></span></strong></span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-chick-fil-a-is-so-successful-2016-5" >Why Chick-fil-A's restaurants sell 3 times as much as KFC's</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-has-redesigned-its-restaurants-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kids-meals-fast-food-mcdonalds-wendys-arbys-burger-king-dairy-queen-kfc-2016-4">Here’s how many calories are in 6 of the most popular fast-food kids meals</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-kimchi-quesadilla-thrives-in-korea-2016-10Taco Bell has created a wildly popular hit overseas — but it won't be coming to America anytime soonhttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-kimchi-quesadilla-thrives-in-korea-2016-10
Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:06:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57fd081d8109eea2408b4a08-600/2-kimchi-quesadilla.jpg" alt="2 kimchi quesadilla" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-link="https://www.tacobell.com/feed/taco-bell-international-food"></p><p>A surprising menu mashup has found incredible success at Taco Bell restaurants in South Korea. </p>
<p>The kimchi quesadilla makes up 10% of sales in the country, Taco Bell CEO Brian Niccol said at Yum Brands' annual investor day on Tuesday. </p>
<p><span>Taco Bell only launched kimchi quesadillas in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/12-taco-bell-international-menu-items-2016-7/#1-kimchi-quesadillas--south-korea-1">South Korea in June,</a> combining the fermented Korean dish with typical Taco Bell cheesiness and spicy chicken.</span></p>
<p><span>However, just because the dish is a hit doesn't mean Americans can expect to see it on menus in the US. </span></p>
<p><span>According to Niccol, the dish represents Taco Bell's attempt to "localize" menus as the chain expands internationally. Today, Taco Bell has 300 international locations in 22 countries. By 2022, the chain wants to have more than 1,000 restaurants internationally in 40 countries. </span></p>
<p><span><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57fd08ec8109eeb6428b4a27-1200/taco%20bell%20fries.jpg" alt="taco bell fries" data-mce-source="Taco Bell Chile"></span></p>
<p><span>Part of this expansion strategy is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/12-taco-bell-international-menu-items-2016-7/#10-fry-stuffed-burrito--chile-10">appealing to local tastes. </a>That means that Taco Bell has served up options such as the Tikka Masala Burrito in India and beer in Spain. Loaded fries are on the menu everywhere from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-loaded-fries-2016-7">Chile to Canada to Japan. </a></span></p>
<p><span>Appealing to local tastes also means that many of these intriguing items aren't going to come to Taco Bell locations in the US any time soon — including the kimchi quesadilla. </span></p>
<p><span><span>"Our kimchi quesadilla is</span><span> very popular in South Korea and fitting for what our customers and the culture of that market are looking for," Taco Bell spokesperson Alec Boyle told Business Insider. "It is not as reflective of what our consumers here in the states are looking for when they come to Taco Bell."</span></span></p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/BG-7L0bhj1w/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">또띠아 속, 매콤한 김치와 쫀득한 치즈~! #김치치즈퀘사디아 드디어 런칭! 타코벨 전매장에서 환상적인 맛의 조합을 지금 바로 만나보세요~! #타코벨 #신메뉴 #한정메뉴 #김치치즈퀘사디아 #KoreaTacoBell #먹스타그램</a>
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<p style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#c9c8cd; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Taco Bell Korea (@koreatacobell) on Jun 22, 2016 at 9:14pm PDT on
<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-23T04:14:41+00:00">Jun 22, 2016 at 9:14pm PDT</time></p>
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<p><span><span><span><span><span>The fast-food chain is in a phase of experimentation, especially when it comes to new ways of serving up fried chicken. Its </span><span>Crispy Chicken Chips are described as "<span>wedge-shaped chicken tenders," and its <span>Naked Chicken Chalupa is essentially a taco <span>that swaps a tortilla for fried chicken.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span>For now, however, the kimchi quesadilla is unlikely to join the ranks to American menu items. Taco Bell's dedication to including local favorites in new countries may be disappointing for American eaters — but it's a win for the increasingly international chain. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/12-taco-bell-international-menu-items-2016-7/#1-kimchi-quesadillas--south-korea-1" >12 Taco Bell menu items you can't find in America</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-kimchi-quesadilla-thrives-in-korea-2016-10#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dice-an-avocado-quickly-restaurant-guacomole-lifehack-2016-9">Here’s the easiest and fastest way to dice an avocado</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/vegetables-trend-at-fast-food-chains-2016-9The fast-food industry is suddenly embracing an unlikely new ingredienthttp://www.businessinsider.com/vegetables-trend-at-fast-food-chains-2016-9
Sun, 25 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/56ccb4396e97c619008b90ea-1089/unnamed.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-link="https://www.tacobell.com/">Forget burritos and burgers — today, vegetables are the hottest trend in the fast-food industry. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vegetables are exploding on the menus of fast-food and fast-casual chains, from greasy omnivore favorites like Taco Bell to new vegan concepts like By Chloe. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We're going to see more vegetables," Panera's head chef Dan Kish told Business Insider. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We're going to see culinary treatments of those vegetables in ways that bring out their flavors without adding a lot of other things to it — so keeping things as natural as possible. Upping the percentage of vegetables in your diet — [it] is part of our job to help you with that."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ironically enough, Kish brought up the rise of vegetables at an event promoting the launch of the chain's new and improved bacon. However, in the modern chain-restaurant landscape, meat and vegetables are increasingly living in harmony on menus.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/57e55ebdb0ef976d008b7cc1-960/panera%20mediterranean%20veggie%20sandwich.jpg" alt="Panera Mediterranean veggie sandwich" data-mce-source="Panera on Facebook" data-link="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11143389_10153265670709629_6113024950404442701_n.jpg?oh=6bd0f4d623475500bfda3d4cd9974409&amp;oe=56F6A478"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kish says that Panera is aiming to balance meat-centric options, like a bacon-turkey sandwich, by packing more vegetables into the dish. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other hand, Taco Bell, a chain hardly known for sustainability and nutrition in the way that Panera is, has a slightly different approach that's similarly packed with vegetables. The Mexican chain emphasizes customization, and customers' ability to make almost any dish meat-free. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last year, Taco Bell debuted a vegetarian menu certified by the American Vegetarian Association, which allows customers to substitute beans and rice for meat in most menu offerings.</span></p>
<p>"Vegetarian has been really big for us recently," because of its relevance to millennials, Taco Bell's dietitian and product developer, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-as-a-healthy-fast-food-chain-2016-2">Missy Nelson</a>, told Business Insider earlier this year.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even less vegetarian-friendly chains are realizing that vegetables may be key to success. While once iceberg lettuce and tired tomatoes were accepted as a forgettable garnish at chain restaurants, meat-centric chains are doubling down on veggie quality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57b602c2ce38f2e3058b782a-1043/80_1606006mcd-salad.jpg" alt="McD Salad" data-mce-source="McDonald's"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-bans-one-ingredient-from-restaurants-2016-4"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chick-fil-A</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and McDonald's have ditched iceberg lettuce in recent years. Instead, the chains are testing vegetables such as kale and broccolini.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>"They didn't feel iceberg lettuce was a nutritious green, and they didn't feel good about eating it in a salad," McDonald's corporate chef <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-chef-nutrition-changes-2016-7">Jessica Foust told Business Insider in July.</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why are fast-food chains investing in vegetables, something that has long been seen as antithetical to their existence? </span></p>
<p>Part of the reason is customer demand: While only <a href="http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/vegetarianism-in-america/">about 3% of Americans identify as vegetarian or vegan,</a> an increasing number of people are cutting meat from their diets. According to a 2015 study, <a href="http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Vegan-is-going-mainstream-trend-data-suggests">26% to 41%</a> of Americans report that they cut down on the amount of meat they ate in the past year.</p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/y2t7g3AGxi/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Re-gram pic from @postcardpr, words by @ridingshotgunla: 3rd time we cooked the #LocoL burger.@dcpatterson is now my brother for life. The burger is before being pressed. It's bread developed by Tartine Bakery that uses koji cultures. That's not all meat in the patty. There are grains and tofu in there but you'd never know but then your soul will, because grains are good for ya. There's a relish in there with the trimmings of vegetables, there's an awesome sauce in there with the same. There's real and not processed cheese in there. The buns a bit big we gotta go down a few grams. We wanna press it a bit like a cubano, maybe, I don't know yet. It's as light as a feather and eats like a bowl of rice but fits in your hand like the burger it is. And it tastes like tomorrow. It's all about transparency. That's #LocoL and that's exactly what we don't currently get in most of our conglomerates and corporations that feed the millions of us in this world. We all deserve better. Wait till you see the pupusa/arepa/tamale type things we got going next. It's like the ancient energy of the future. Get with us, link is in bio.</a>
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<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-02-08T21:17:03+00:00">Feb 8, 2015 at 1:17pm PST</time></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adding more vegetables to the menu is a great way to appeal to the average American, who may not be committed to a 100%-meat-free lifestyle, but wants to dabble in more veggie-friendly diet. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, there is also a hidden financial bonus to focusing on beefing up vegetables offerings. Vegetables typically cost less than meat, meaning that adding more vegetables to a dish can provide a cheaper way to fill up customers. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson have made headlines with the concept Loco'l. The concept provides healthy meals at fast-food prices by cutting costs by doing things such as <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiOkpvl-aXPAhVs5YMKHQSaBDEQFggeMAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eater.com%2F2015%2F6%2F17%2F8796345%2Flocol-menu-testing-roy-choi-daniel-patterson&amp;usg=AFQjCNHvzqUvvC-sSc1XAc0vC4PqNUkrNQ">adding more grains and vegetables to chain standards like burgers</a>. Customers fill up faster, and the company is able to save money while also providing a healthier meal. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As old-school chains explore their vegetarian options, Loco'l isn't the only new concept banking on vegetables. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/56d7018f2e52651a008bacd9-910/by%20chloe%203.jpg" alt="by chloe 3" data-mce-source="By Chloe"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Chloe, a new 100%-vegan chain, only opened its first location a year ago, in New York City. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now the chain has a location in Los Angeles opened in partnership with Whole Foods 365, a recently opened sweets shop, and several more new locations in development. On Friday, the chain announced it was adding two new vegan contributing chefs to the organization, Jenn</span>é Claiborne and Lauren Kretzer.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Chloe doesn't offer any meat or meat-byproducts on the menu. However, the vegan chain has some surprising similarities to fast-food chain in its approach to vegetables. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the company, more than 80% of customers are not even vegetarian. In fact, a number of customers don't even realize that the concept is vegan when they order their food. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This notion, that vegetable-based food is appealing to nonvegetarians, is the very same idea responsible for the rise of vegetables in fast food. In 2016, veggies aren't just for vegetarians — they're also for all types fast-food lovers. </span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/i-ate-an-all-vegetarian-fast-food-diet-2016-9" >I ate nothing but vegetarian fast food for a week — and discovered a huge problem with the industry</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vegetables-trend-at-fast-food-chains-2016-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tomatoes-considered-vegetables-us-government-fruits-farming-science-political-supreme-court-case-2016-9">The weird reason tomatoes are labeled vegetables by the government</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-cheetos-chicken-fries-fast-food-restaurants-2016-9Burger King's Cheetos Chicken Fries are just the beginning for the fast food industryhttp://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-cheetos-chicken-fries-fast-food-restaurants-2016-9
Mon, 19 Sep 2016 19:23:00 -0400Daniel B. Kline
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57e051c6077dcc0f208b5b89-2028/final pr_bcf image 10.26.15.jpg" alt="Burger King's Buffalo Chicken Fries" data-mce-source="Burger King" data-mce-caption="Burger King's Buffalo Chicken Fries" /></p><p></p>
<p>At a time when Doritos can serve as the base of a taco shell and Cheetos dust has become a star ingredient, it's hard to see where fast-food chains will draw the line.</p>
<p>The battle for consumers has gotten so intense that simply adding a thicker slice of bacon or trotting out a new sauce no longer moves the needle. Instead, consumers need to be wowed and, as often as not, that means doing something outrageous.</p>
<p>In a world where both bacon and hot dogs have been stuffed along with cheese into the crust of a pizza, even the truly absurd seems plausible.&nbsp;<span>Yum! Brands</span>&nbsp;Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC continue to come up with even wilder menu items and&nbsp;<span>Restaurant Brands</span>&nbsp;<span>International</span>'s&nbsp;Burger King must have some kind of test kitchen working on new ways to merge its products with Cheetos.</p>
<h2>Why is this happening?</h2>
<p>Jonathan Deutsch, a professor of Culinary Arts and Food Science at Drexel University, said in an email interview with The Motley Fool that fast food and quick serve restaurants (QSR) have been trying bolder innovation due to how competitive the sector has become.</p>
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<p>By introducing a new, must-try item like this, they get people in the door. Even if the item is somewhat niche, it gets people, groups of friends and families to purchase additional products as well and reminds guests of that restaurant as a meal option.</p>
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<p>Deutsch also noted that adding familiar products (like Doritos or Cheetos) to the mix makes people want the item even more.&nbsp;"By associating a product with a highly crave-able snack food, it puts in the consumer's head that their taco, burger, or fries are similarly crave-able," he wrote.</p>
<p>Scott Rothbort, chief market strategist for Seton Hall University who specializes in food and restaurant stock investing, echoed his colleague's sentiments.&nbsp;"These chains need reasons to attract marginal customers," told the Fool. "They do so by introducing these limited time offerings of new products."</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5760049291058426008c8caa-2048/1973349_10152389795379697_6621588182186339947_o.jpg" alt="Doritos Locos" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-link="https://www.facebook.com/tacobell/photos/a.81097684696.68431.18595834696/10152389795379697/?type=3&amp;theater" /></p>
<p>In a separate email, Blaze PR President Matt Kovacs, whose fast-casual clients include Chronic Tacos, Bareburger, Burgerim, and Blue C Sushi, said that QSR trends reflect the nature of our society.</p>
<p><span>Everything is bigger now. Just look at the political landscape; Donald Trump has shown us that the more shocking something is, the more of an impact and impression it makes on people. We're just seeing that being reflected in the fast-food industry.</span></p>
<h2>This is not going to slow down</h2>
<p><span></span>Kovacs expects the extreme trend to continue in the fast-food space.</p>
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<p>We've seen it grow and develop over the years, thanks to shows like Guy Fieri's&nbsp;<em>Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives</em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern</em>. The fast-food industry is picking up on the fascination with the exotic in a race to outdo the last guy.</p>
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<p>Michael Mohammed, the CEO of Chronic Tacos, a chain built on classic recipes, told the Fool that he believes this trend has just started, but that it does have an end date.&nbsp;"It's become a creativity competition between brands; but there's a point where it gets over done," he wrote. "The outrageousness creates confusion and starts to contradict what people actually want to eat." &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><span>Mohammed believes that gimmicks can get people in the door, but ultimately that is only a short-term fix.</span></p>
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<p>The real battle for consumers comes down to are they going to have a good experience when they dine, will the food taste good, and can they share it with their friends? That's how the awareness of a brand spreads. The Cheetos Chicken Fry doesn't really seem to carry itself beyond the initial trial.</p>
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<h2><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/55914d7a69bedde52d94b910-2048/14072309735_33ca74af80_k (1).jpg" alt="doritos" data-mce-source="Flickr/dlee13" data-link="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dlee13/14072309735/" /></h2>
<h2>What's coming next?<span><br /></span></h2>
<p>If you think the items already being sold are over the top,&nbsp;<span>Brent Dowling, CEO of RainTree, a franchise development organization, said to expect even more outrageous offerings going forward. Dowling, who has worked with brands including&nbsp;<span></span></span>Doc Popcorn, Kono Pizza, Rush Bowls, Vitality Bowls, and many more sees the mixing of brands as something that will become even more prevalent.</p>
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<p>You'll also see an increase in brands incorporating products by other well-known brands into their offerings, not unlike Burger King's Cheetos Chicken Fries...Brands will continue to stretch the creativity line.</p>
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<p>He also expects portability to be a growing trend and he noted that one of the chains he works with, Kono USA, has introduced pizza, breakfast, dessert and deli options in an edible pizza dough cone that can be held in one hand. And despite him pushing pizza cones, Dowling does believe healthy items will make a comeback.</p>
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<p>Consumers demand variety and are more concerned with eating healthier than ever before. But they have also demonstrated that they are not willing to compromise on taste.</p>
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<p><span>Mohammed</span>&nbsp;agreed that healthier choices will be part of the next wave of innovation.&nbsp;"I'm starting to see a trend of chef inspired meals; something visually appealing and creative but that you feel good about eating, as well," he wrote.&nbsp;That healthy trend was echoed by Rothbort, who believes that "we will see QSRs begin to roll out non-GMO products."</p>
<p>Deutsch does not think that fast-food companies will stop marketing ridiculous menu items tied to snack foods, but he does agree that healthier choices will be part of the future.&nbsp;"We are seeing overall trends like interests in healthier but still delicious options, more opportunities for fresh flavors, global flavors, and lower-on-the-food chain options," he pointed out.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-cheetos-chicken-fries-fast-food-restaurants-2016-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/preauricular-sinus-small-hole-above-ear-2016-11">Here's why some people have a tiny hole above their ears</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/pizza-hut-launches-grilled-cheese-pizza-2016-9Pizza Hut is coming out with a grilled cheese pizzahttp://www.businessinsider.com/pizza-hut-launches-grilled-cheese-pizza-2016-9
Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:01:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57dc2db9b0ef975f148b61fc-911/screen shot 2016-09-16 at 1.36.14 pm.png" alt="Grilled Cheese Stuffed Crust" data-mce-source="Pizza Hut" />Pizza Hut is launching pizza with a grilled cheese crust. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Monday, the chain will debut&nbsp;the</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;Grilled Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza: a dish that features cheddar and mozzarella cheese stuffed into its crust. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The difference between this new pizza and a more traditional stuffed crust are the cheese, bread crumb, and melted butter that top the crust, producing a crunchier texture reminiscent of a grilled cheese sandwich.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The Grilled Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza is an imagination of a classic grilled cheese and a traditional pizza,&rdquo; David Timm, Pizza Hut's chief marketing officer, said in a statement. "The result is a delicious, flavorful pizza that packs the punch of a gooey, crunchy grilled cheese."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A one-topping, large&nbsp;<span>Grilled Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza</span> costs $12.99. Customers can order the pizza with any available Pizza Hut toppings. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fast-food mashups are everywhere in the industry right now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/576c14a652bcd044008cb564-2003/burger king mac n cheetos-6.jpg" alt="Burger King Mac n Cheetos 6" data-mce-source="Hollis Johnson" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taco Bell established itself as the master of fast-food mashups with the success of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-doritos-locos-taco-story-2014-2">Doritos Locos Taco</a>. The chain p</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">lans to launch a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-plans-launch-of-fried-chicken-taco-2016-8">taco with a fried chicken shell </a>in 2017 after years of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-tests-an-inverted-quesarito-2016-3">increasingly</a> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-serving-cheetos-crunchwraps-2016-3">bizarre</a>&nbsp;menu items.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Burger King recently launched the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-cheeto-chicken-fries-review-2016-9">Cheetos Chicken Fries</a> and the<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/are-burger-kings-mac-n-cheetos-a-rip-off-2016-8"> Mac n' Cheetos.</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pizza Hut has long been one of the most adventurous players in the pizza industry, introducing options such as pizzas with garlic knot and bacon stuffed crusts. It hasn't always been a financial success for the chain &mdash; same-store sales increased 1% in the US last quarter, <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/3988484-yum-brands-yum-ceo-greg-creed-q2-2016-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single">missing Yum Brand's expectations.</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Currently, the brand is in the midst of a major remodeling effort, with plans to<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/story/13429991/1/not-only-will-new-pizza-huts-look-different-they-ll-also-serve-alcohol.html"> revamp 700 of</a> its US locations this year.&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/halal-food-is-now-a-20-billion-business-2016-9" >A hugely popular but largely ignored global cuisine is now worth $20 billion in America</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pizza-hut-launches-grilled-cheese-pizza-2016-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tour-de-france-cyclist-6071-calories-day-chipotle-pizza-2016-7">This is what the number of calories Tour de France cyclists burn daily actually looks like</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-meals-pizza-papa-johns-mcdonalds-taco-bell-calories-fat-2016-8 5 'healthy' fast food meals that are worse for you than pizza http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-meals-pizza-papa-johns-mcdonalds-taco-bell-calories-fat-2016-8
Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:02:00 -0400Jacqui Frank and Jessica Orwig
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<p>It turns out the "healthy" options at fast-food chains are often not all that healthy.</p>
<p><em>Produced by Jacqui Frank. Original reporting by Jessica Orwig.</em></p>
<p><strong>Follow BI Video:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/BI_Video" target="_blank">On Twitter</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-meals-pizza-papa-johns-mcdonalds-taco-bell-calories-fat-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-giving-away-playstation-vr-headsets-2016-9There's a way to get PlayStation's new virtual reality headset before it hits shelveshttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-giving-away-playstation-vr-headsets-2016-9
Thu, 15 Sep 2016 08:01:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/57d9c395077dcc7e128b5d4b-1632/img_6599.jpg" alt="Taco Bell VR" data-mce-source="Kate Taylor" />Sony's PlayStation VR is gearing up to be one of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sony-playstation-vr-could-be-the-next-ipod-2016-3">most revolutionary launches</a> in tech this year. Now, there's a way&nbsp;to get the virtual reality headset before it hits shelves in&nbsp;October. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Thursday, Taco Bell will begin&nbsp;giving away a PlayStation VR every 15 minutes every day until October 19.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Customers who buy a $5 Big Box (which contains the new Cheddar Habanero Quesarito, a Doritos Locos Taco, a Crunchy Taco, and a medium drink) can enter the code on the side of the box <a href="https://winpsvr.com/">on the company's website</a> or text the code to 72823 to see if they've won.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The PlayStation VR is officially launching on October 13. However, Taco Bell says that early giveaway winners will begin to receive their devices on&nbsp;October 11.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/57d9c43d077dcc6b138b5ceb-2400/taco bell vr box.jpg" alt="Taco Bell VR Box" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each winner will receive a PlayStation VR Launch Bundle, which includes a headset, headphones, camera, two motion controllers, and a $40 PlayStation store credit. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taco Bell and Sony are giving away 3,360 bundles, adding up to roughly $1.7 million in value.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Taco Bell is a brand that lives at the intersection of food and culture, and that is why we're particularly excited to be giving people the chance to be among the first to access the hottest tech this season with PlayStation VR &mdash; along with our limited edition spicy Quesarito $5 box," Marisa Thalberg, Taco Bell's chief marketing officer, said in a statement. "It's two exclusives brought together."&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Customers can only plug in&nbsp;one code per day, with the contest running from September 15 to October 19. In addition to getting codes by buying the Big Box, y<span>ou can also access a code by </span><a href="https://winpsvr.com/en-us/Rules"><span>mailing in a request for a code</span></a><span> or, starting October 5, </span><a href="https://winpsvr.com/common"><span>requesting a code online.</span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5710ff39910584155c8bcc61-1956/rtx1tnd2.jpg" alt="Playstation VR" data-mce-source="Reuters/Benoit Tessier" data-mce-caption="A visitor plays a game on a PlayStation VR at the Paris Games Week, a trade fair for video games in Paris, France." data-link="http://pictures.reuters.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZIUV6GAE&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1298&amp;RH=904#/SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZIUV6GAE&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1298&amp;RH=904&amp;POPUPPN=17&amp;POPUPIID=2C0BF1OU3RQEL" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sony's virtual reality headset has been a long time in the making. Sony has been working on the headset</span><a href="http://www.techinsider.io/the-playstation-4-virtual-reality-headset-release-date-2016-3"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> since 2010, </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">debuting the project in March 2014 as "Project Morpheus." </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Taco Bell's role as one of the first purveyors of the PlayStation VR may at first seem confusing, it isn't an unprecedented move for the chain. This is the fourth year that Taco Bell has partnered with Sony for a giveaway. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last year, the chain partnered with Sony for a gold PlayStation 4 &mdash; device that became&nbsp;so popular winners have been able to resell them online </span><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-PlayStation-4-Console-Bundle-Taco-Bell-Limited-Edition-1-6048-/262101744798"><span style="font-weight: 400;">for $1,000.&nbsp;</span></a></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-not-to-buy-at-walmart-2016-9" >12 items you should never buy at Walmart</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-giving-away-playstation-vr-headsets-2016-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ps4-vr-games-look-incredible-star-wars-batman-resident-evil-2016-6">The games for PlayStation 4's VR headset look incredible</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/i-ate-an-all-vegetarian-fast-food-diet-2016-9I ate nothing but vegetarian fast food for a week — and discovered a huge problem with the industryhttp://www.businessinsider.com/i-ate-an-all-vegetarian-fast-food-diet-2016-9
Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:35:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/56dde4d79105844e018b4ad3-3615-2711/img_3970.jpg" alt="Kate salad" data-mce-source="Tova Diker" />As someone who loves both meat and chain restaurants, I was only half&nbsp;prepared when I adopted a 100% fast-food diet with no meat allowed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After spending a week trying to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-diet-plan-review-2016-2">eat healthy while consuming nothing but fast food</a>, I figured that going vegetarian for five days would be a breeze. I already knew fast-food menus like the back of my hand, and I had plenty of vegetarian friends I could consult. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, a growing percentage of the American population has already gone vegetarian. While <a href="http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/vegetarianism-in-america/">about 3% of the US identifies as vegetarian or vegan</a>, an increasing number of people are cutting meat from their diet; <a href="http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Vegan-is-going-mainstream-trend-data-suggests">26% to 41%</a> of Americans report that they cut down on the amount of meat they ate in the past year. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If fast-food chains want to compete with the new wave of trendy fast-casual restaurants, they need to appeal to the vegetarian market &mdash; including people who want to decrease the amount of meat they eat without cutting it from their diet. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, I became a short-term vegetarian to see which fast-food chains were evolving to meet the meatless needs of consumers. </span></p><h3>My first and most important rule was that I could eat only at fast-food chains. (I would consume at least three meals a day.)</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/56ddbcf491058423008b497a-400-300/my-first-and-most-important-rule-was-that-i-could-eat-only-at-fast-food-chains-i-would-consume-at-least-three-meals-a-day.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>That means no notoriously veggie-friendly fast casuals like Sweetgreen or Chipotle. </span></p>
<p><span>My orders would be 100% vegetarian, so no burgers or chicken fingers. I would not, however, be going vegan, so I could still eat things like eggs and cheese.</span></p>
<p>The challenge would last for one work week, from Monday to Friday.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>I kicked off the week with the biggest name in fast food: McDonald's.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/56ddbda7910584cc008b49a3-400-300/i-kicked-off-the-week-with-the-biggest-name-in-fast-food-mcdonalds.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>McDonald's has an extensive breakfast menu with a lot of range when it comes to health and meatiness. I ordered&nbsp;an ice coffee and a&nbsp;fruit-and-maple oatmeal.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The McDonald's oatmeal was certainly more flavorful than my typical morning bowl, packed with&nbsp;<span>apples, cranberries, and (according to McDonald's) two types of raisins. It was also sweeter than I'm used to,&nbsp;with 32 grams of sugar &mdash; more than half of the&nbsp;daily recommended dosage. Clearly, vegetarian does not necessarily mean nutritious.&nbsp;</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>For lunch I visited a chain highly recommended by vegetarian friends: Taco Bell.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/56ddbf8252bcd029008b496f-400-300/for-lunch-i-visited-a-chain-highly-recommended-by-vegetarian-friends-taco-bell.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Taco Bell is the only national fast-food chain to have a menu certified by the&nbsp;<span>American Vegetarian Association. Even before&nbsp;the chain rolled out the certified menu last October, Taco Bell had plenty of vegetarian cred thanks to the ease with which customers could&nbsp;substitute beans and rice for meat in most menu offerings.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Vegetarian has been really big for us recently," because of its relevance to millennials,&nbsp;<span>Taco Bell's dietitian and product developer&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-as-a-healthy-fast-food-chain-2016-2">Missy Nelson</a>&nbsp;told Business Insider.&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><span>Looking at Taco Bell's menu, it's clear there is&nbsp;plenty to&nbsp;choose from. I decided on a bean burrito and a spicy potato soft taco. The burrito was straightforward but tasty, while the soft taco packed a bit of heat into the potatoes &mdash; two solid options I'd order again.&nbsp;</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/i-ate-an-all-vegetarian-fast-food-diet-2016-9#/#for-dinner-i-visited-the-meatiest-fast-food-chain-of-them-all-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-a-healthy-fast-food-chain-2016-9Taco Bell has subtly become one of the healthiest fast-food chainshttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-a-healthy-fast-food-chain-2016-9
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 11:35:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/56ccb3f36e97c631008b91f3-524-393/tacobell-mmm.jpg" alt="Taco Bell Taco" data-mce-source="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3427412201/" /></p><p>Can a chain best known for fried, cheesy, Doritos-filled offerings also be a go-to for healthy food?</p>
<p>According to Taco Bell's dietitian and product developer, Missy Nelson, the fast-food chain already is.</p>
<p>Nelson began working at Taco Bell more than four years ago. Since she arrived, Taco Bell has pledged to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/these-7-chains-are-getting-rid-of-artificial-ingredients-2015-6">cut artificial ingredients</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-taco-bell-says-switching-to-cage-free-eggs-by-2017-2015-11">switch to cage-free eggs</a>. The brand has introduced the lower-calorie Fresco menu, the high-protein Cantina menu, and a vegetarian menu certified by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-vegetarian-menu-2015-10">American Vegetarian Association</a>. Across all offerings, there has been a 15% reduction in sodium.</p>
<p>In the same time frame, the taco chain has also premiered the Doritos Locos taco, the waffle taco, and, most recently, the uber-cheesy Quesalupa.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/56ccb40f6e97c621048b916f-2222-1667/taco bell quesalupa-5.jpg" alt="Taco Bell Quesalupa 5" data-mce-source="Hollis Johnson" /></p>
<p>Clearly, nutrition-savvy advances can coexist with products that few would put on their diet plans. In my own experience after a week of eating nothing but fast food, Taco Bell was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-chains-ranking-2016-2">one of the best chains around</a> to find healthy options.</p>
<p>Taco Bell's game plan for adding healthy options while releasing craveable hits is simple.</p>
<p>"We just really encourage people to customize to however it fits their lifestyle," Nelson says.</p>
<p>From top to bottom, Taco Bell, especially in its online and mobile ordering platforms, has been subtly organized to promote this sense of choice &mdash; whether to pig out or to eat healthy.</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/56ccb4396e97c619008b90ea-967-725/unnamed.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Taco Bell" data-link="https://www.tacobell.com/" /></p>
<p>Not eating meat? Click "Vegetarian" to see all the veggie and vegan options. Want to cut calories? Simply hit the "make it Fresco" button to cut cheese, rice, and sour cream and add pico de gallo.</p>
<p>"It's one click and it automatically does it for you," Nelson says of the Fresco option. "Now we're seeing a huge increase in Fresco-style orders through our mobile ordering."</p>
<p>Then comes the endless options to customize.</p>
<p>It's a system that can be used to create a monster burrito, filled with bacon, potatoes, and spicy ranch. But it can also be used to shave some calories and fat off your meal. And no matter what you order, it's equally easy to figure out the nutritional information with the customizable nutrition calculator.</p>
<p>Nelson also says tiny details, such as the font style and the phrasing on the online list of ingredients, have been tweaked to make it easier for customers to read and understand the menu.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/56536e48c28144ba018b4ca9-822-617/screen shot 2014-02-24 at 3.01.57 pm.png" alt="taco bell waffle taco " data-mce-source="Taco Bell" /></p>
<p>By positioning its nutrition strategy around choice, Taco Bell gets to keep less-than-healthy options on the menu. It also frees the chain of the need to directly compete with health-obsessed fast-casual chains like Chipotle when it comes to nutrition.</p>
<p>"Us touting ourselves as a health halo &mdash; it's not authentic and it's not real," Taco Bell spokesman Alec Boyle says.</p>
<p>Instead of running ad campaigns focused on health and freshness, the company prefers to make nutritional information available to those who want to make healthier choices. That ranges from providing online FAQs for customers searching for the best way to eat healthy at Taco Bell to having more in-depth conversations with "<a href="http://digiday.com/platforms/taco-bell-snapchat-super-bowl/">influencers</a>" who are interested in the topic.</p>
<p>Nelson has led the chain in making some changes that affect the entire menu, such as the move toward cutting sodium and simplifying ingredients.</p>
<p>Overall, however, the onus at Taco Bell is on customers to be healthy. The fast-food chain has provided taco lovers with surprisingly useful nutrition tools &mdash; now, they just have to use them.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-chains-ranking-2016-2" >I spent a week eating nothing but fast food — here are the healthiest options</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-is-a-healthy-fast-food-chain-2016-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/arbys-fried-chicken-gets-an-upgrade-2016-8Arby's just unleashed a new weapon in the fast food fried chicken warshttp://www.businessinsider.com/arbys-fried-chicken-gets-an-upgrade-2016-8
Fri, 26 Aug 2016 13:42:33 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/57c07979b996eb26008b4b86-1944/buttermilkchicken.jpg" alt="ButtermilkChicken" data-mce-source="Arby's" />Arby's is revamping&nbsp;its fried chicken. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The chain is now selling sandwiches made with a new chicken breast fillet, Arby's told Business Insider. The upgraded&nbsp;fillet is bigger than the brand's previous version, marinated in buttermilk and coated in a buttermilk breading. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The result, according to Arby's senior vice president of product development Jim Taylor, is juicier and more flavorful, with a mix of&nbsp;sweet&nbsp;and savory&nbsp;that aims to "excite more areas of your palate."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The upgraded chicken will be used on Arby's menu mainstays </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chicken Bacon Swiss, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Crispy Chicken, as well as the new limited-time Buttermilk Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, which is launching nationwide on Monday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57c079d9b996eb95008b4b74-1752/fried chicken sandwiches-12.jpg" alt="Fried Chicken Sandwiches Arby's 12" data-mce-source="Hollis Johnson" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We definitely needed something that was spicy and also unique to Arby's," Taylor told Business Insider of the&nbsp;<span>Buffalo Chicken Sandwich</span>. A hand-dipped buffalo sandwich fit the bill, as&nbsp;something sold at bar and grills or casual dining restaurants, but rarely appearing on the menu at&nbsp;fast-food chains.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taylor said that Arby's&nbsp;chicken relaunch was in response to the chain looking for&nbsp;areas where it was falling short.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We ask ourselves, 'Are there areas or gaps that we don't fulfill?'" he says. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chicken was one area Arby's felt it could improve, with sales failing to measure up with what the company believed they could be. A new fillet and the accompanying push to market the chain's chicken sandwiches at a time when Americans are </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-golden-age-of-fried-chicken-2016-8"><span style="font-weight: 400;">craving higher-quality and more flavorful versions of fried chicken </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">could be a major game changer for the chain. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I think America has always had a love affair with fried chicken," says Taylor. "Let's face it, a lot of things taste great fried."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/573f17a7910584716f8c3e0f-987/taco bell naked chicken.jpg" alt="taco bell naked chicken" data-mce-source="Redditor Cheez4444" data-link="http://imgur.com/xKaiMbU" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arby's isn't the only chain angling to get in on the fried chicken game. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2015, Burger King launched its Chicken Fries and McDonald's reintroduced Chicken Selects. Taco Bell is now planning a national launch of a taco that uses fried chicken as the tortilla, as well as </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-takes-on-chick-fil-a-with-chicken-tests-2016-8"><span style="font-weight: 400;">testing other fried-chicken menu items.</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chicken chain Chick-fil-A has</span> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-is-reinventing-itself-2016-3"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exploded from a regional chain to the No. 1 chicken chain in the US </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">by sales in recent years. Meanwhile, rival KFC is in the </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-chick-fil-a-is-beating-kfc-2016-5"><span style="font-weight: 400;">midst of a brand revamp, </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">putting its </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kfcs-georgia-gold-honey-mustard-bbq-review-2016-7"><span style="font-weight: 400;">extra crispy and regional takes on fried chicken </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">front and center.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Part of the explosion of fried chicken in the fast-food and fast-casual industry is due to </span><a href="http://nrn.com/commodities-watch/mcdonald-s-burger-king-push-chicken-amid-high-beef-costs"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lower chicken prices.</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, another factor is simply that Americans are craving fried chicken. According to the public-perception tracker YouGov Brand Index data, the chicken sector has been the No. 1 category in the fast-food business by purchase consideration </span><a href="http://www.brandindex.com/article/qsr-chicken-sector-soars-while-mexican-lags"><span style="font-weight: 400;">since April, when it eclipsed the burger sector.</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The American fast-food industry&nbsp;is<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-golden-age-of-fried-chicken-2016-8"> entering a golden age of fried chicken. </a>With its new fried-chicken fillet and the Buffalo Chicken sandwich, Arby's wants in on the action. </span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-golden-age-of-fried-chicken-2016-8" >America's 'better burger' obsession is fading as a new kind of fast food takes over</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/arbys-fried-chicken-gets-an-upgrade-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/boston-market-rotisserie-chicken-marsala-2016-8">We tried Boston Market's new chicken Marsala, but it did not compare to the classic rotisserie</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-diet-week-review-2016-8I consumed nothing but fast food for a week, and it was the easiest and cheapest diet plan I've ever triedhttp://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-diet-week-review-2016-8
Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:01:00 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/56c3a99f6e97c62e008b7993-1985-1489/img_3831.jpg" alt="kate burger" data-mce-source="Kate Taylor" /></p><p>When I told friends I was eating nothing but fast food for a week, most immediately thought of the (in)famous Morgan Spurlock documentary "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Size_Me" target="_blank">Super Size Me</a>."</p>
<p>No, I would respond. I'm eating <em>healthy</em>.</p>
<p>As fast-food chains increasingly try to appeal to health-conscious Americans, supposedly nutritious items are popping up on menus more and more.</p>
<p>From KFC's grilled chicken to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-new-kale-salad-is-worse-for-you-than-a-double-big-mac-2016-2"> McDonald's (shockingly caloric) kale salad</a>, massive restaurant chains want to signal to customers that nutrition and fast food can go hand in hand.</p>
<p>If these chains want to compete with the new wave of healthier fast-casual alternatives, they're going to have to prove they can become daily go-tos for nutrition-savvy millennials.</p>
<p>So I decided to see for myself how the chains, and my stomach, held up after a week of eating only at fast-food restaurants.</p><h3>My first and most important rule was that I could eat only at fast-food chains. (I would consume at least three meals a day.)</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/56c39afd2e526543008b7779-400-300/my-first-and-most-important-rule-was-that-i-could-eat-only-at-fast-food-chains-i-would-consume-at-least-three-meals-a-day.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>That means no health-food-obsessed fast casuals like Sweetgreen or Chipotle. It's all about chains best known for burgers, fries, and fried chicken 24/7. (The one exception: I could drink alcohol.)</p>
<p>My secondary rule: I must try and eat as healthy as possible at these fast-food restaurants. My definition of health was pretty general. My meals should to add up to less than the FDA's daily recommended limit in calories, fat, and sodium, while providing me with enough protein to fill me up.</p>
<p>The challenge would last for one work week, from Monday to Friday.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>I started off the week at a familiar breakfast destination: Dunkin' Donuts.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/56c39b3b2e52651d008b7817-400-300/i-started-off-the-week-at-a-familiar-breakfast-destination-dunkin-donuts.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>There's one obvious "healthy" option on the menu: the Egg White Flatbread, which has been recommended as one of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-breakfast-at-mcdonalds-burger-king-panera"> 11 healthiest fast-food breakfast items around. It's a little high in sodium (610 grams) but also high in protein (15 grams).</a></p>
<p>If you eat the flatbread while it's hot, it's actually tasty and pretty hearty. However, the longer you wait, the more disturbing the congealed egg white and cheese appear. I pair the flatbread with a coffee and head to work.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Lunch at Wendy's revealed just how gross grilled chicken could get.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/56c39bca6e97c627008b7882-400-300/lunch-at-wendys-revealed-just-how-gross-grilled-chicken-could-get.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>After finding a reasonably healthy breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts, I was optimistic about what Wendy's would serve up for lunch. I'm generally a fan of the chain, and the Asian Cashew Chicken Salad fit all my qualifications (again, high sodium but low calorie and otherwise healthy), so I ordered it with high hopes.</p>
<p>These hopes were not met.</p>
<p>First, let me say the salad was not without its merits. The fire-roasted edamame was delicious. The dressing was nice. The cashews were spicy. But the grilled chicken was irredeemable.</p>
<p>At first, I ignored the floppy texture of the chicken. However, the more of the meat I ate, the more alien it seemed. It wasn't the taste &mdash; it was the strange consistency that seems unique to some fast-food chicken used to top salads.</p>
<p>I didn't finish the dish.</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/healthy-fast-food-diet-week-review-2016-8#/#dinner-was-nearly-thwarted-by-yet-another-disturbing-ingredient-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-worker-refused-to-serve-police-2016-8A Taco Bell worker allegedly refused to serve law-enforcement officershttp://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-worker-refused-to-serve-police-2016-8
Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:01:12 -0400Kate Taylor
<p><span><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57bda84bce38f284328b8620-2400/gettyimages-1752967.jpg" alt="Taco Bell" data-mce-source="Flickr/Joe Raedle" data-link="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/woman-leaves-a-taco-bell-restaurant-june-14-2002-where-news-photo/1752967" />Police&nbsp;officers were not welcome at an Kentucky&nbsp;Taco Bell last week&nbsp;&mdash; the second time in a little over a month law-enforcement officers have been turned away at the chain.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span>Last Thursday, an employee refused to take the lunch orders of five Louisville Metro Police officers,<a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2016/08/23/fop-officers-denied-service-taco-bell/89214262/"> reports The Courier-Journal.&nbsp;</a>While the officers' orders were eventually taken, other employees were also hostile towards the police.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>"Another employee stated to a co-worker 'I want to mess with them.&nbsp;I want to mess with them.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m going to mess with them.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m going to mess with them,'"<span> Sgt. Dave Mutchler&nbsp;</span>wrote in an email to The Courier-Journal.</p>
<p>In July, a&nbsp;<span>cashier at a Taco Bell in Phenix City was fired after<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-turned-away-sheriffs-deputies-2016-7"> turning away </a>two sheriff's deputies because of their status as law-enforcement officers.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span>At the time,&nbsp;<span>Taco Bell said the action is&nbsp;not a restaurant policy &mdash; nationally or locally &mdash; but instead the act of a single employee. (Taco Bell did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the most recent incident.)</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Taco Bell isn't the only chain where&nbsp;<span>restaurant employees have refused to serve customers in recent months.&nbsp;<span> In June, a Cook Out employee was fired for</span><span> </span><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cook-out-refused-to-serve-trump-fans-2016-6">being unwilling to serve Donald Trump supporters,</a>&nbsp;and in July, McDonald's fired an employee for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-worker-fired-after-refusing-to-serve-police-officer-2016-7">refusing to serve a police officer.&nbsp;</a></span></span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/popular-restaurant-from-the-south-cook-out-tour-2016-6" >What it's like to visit the cult fast-food chain Trump supporters are threatening to boycott</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-worker-refused-to-serve-police-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/police-officer-tommy-norman-social-media-community-policing-game-2016-7">This police officer has become a social-media star by promoting community policing</a></p>